2012 Top 5 Rising Chefs in the U.S. "
Aquavit

At 29, Marcus Jernmark is poised to become America's new ambassador of Scandinavian cuisine. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, he quickly landed the post of executive chef at the Swedish Consulate in New York thanks to his standout talents. Cooking for royalty and Nobel Prize winners showcased his creative, haute Nordic fare, and it was only natural that he would gravitate to the world-class Aquavit. There he was named executive sous chef in 2009 --- and five months later he became executive chef. Jernmark, who was recently named a partner in the restaurant, is adept at combining ancient traditions, including Swedish methods of pickling, preserving and curing, with modern aesthetics and technique. His seasonal Scandinavian cuisine may be trendy now, but he was, and remains, ahead of the game.